Credits: Article and images by Wei Koh @ Revolution Watch Magazine. See the original article here - https://revolutionwatch.com/12-coolest-watches-of-watches-and-wonders-2024/
A lot of people have misunderstood the message underlying the 2024 Rolex novelties. But before we talk about that, let’s look at how Rolex has grown in the last 10 years.
It is estimated that Rolex has increased its production in the past decade around 25 percent, which is significantly less than that of many other brands. Yet, at the same time, at CHF 15.1 billion in retail value as of 2023, Rolex does more than double the business compared to every other brand in luxury watchmaking. Further that, for every single Rolex, there is more than one willing buyer.
And Rolex has the greatest luxury brand recognition on earth, which means its brand equity is unassailable. So how has Rolex achieved such staggering revenue growth if it has only grown moderately in terms of volume?
Last year, the average price of a Rolex was CHF 12,218, which is significantly more than most people realize. Rolex has achieved its revenue growth by increasing its average price, and through consistently gaining market share in the high luxury category with more precious metals, gem setting and artisanal dials for its watches.
And it is clear that Rolex is on track to utterly dominate this category. That is the message behind the watches that were launched this year.
The 40mm white gold Day-Date combines all three of these elements, with in-house smelted gold for its case, a ravishing mother-of-pearl dial — only one dial can be produced per shell with this pattern reminiscent of clouds — and gem setting here on the dial is in the form of baguette diamond indexes. But for those of you bemoaning the evolution behind its sports watch roots, check the Rolex catalog; there are steel diving watches, chronographs, GMTs, Explorers, and more, still very much in existence.
What Rolex has decided to showcase is the other part of its story — the high luxury timepieces also wonderfully embodied by the white gold Daytonas with mother-of-pearl dials and brilliant-cut diamond set bezels. I, for one, loved this year’s Rolex watches.
For those complaining that Rolex should never have made a gold Deepsea, you could say the same thing about Lamborghini or Porsche’s creation of SUVs which have gone on to be their top-selling models.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra 2024
Credits: Article and images by Wei Koh @ Revolution Watch Magazine. See the original article here - https://revolutionwatch.com/12-coolest-watches-of-watches-and-wonders-2024/